Americans live in a car culture.  Without an automobile, life can be extremely tough in some areas.  Even many metropolitan areas don’t have any real semblance of public transportation and those in less-populated areas really don’t have any choice but to drive if they want to function in society.

The problem, obviously, is that cars cost money.  In many cases, people need transportation but don’t have the resources to go out and purchase a nice late model car.  That’s why so many people, especially during these trying economic times, are on the hunt for cars under 500 dollars.

Here’s the good news:  They’re out there!

Here are a few ways to find a car for less than $500.

eBay.  Auto auctions on eBay don’t always attract a lot of deep-pocketed bidders.  You can sometimes score a completely operable vehicle for less than five hundred bucks.

Craigslist.  When people need to sell something in a hurry, they often turn to Craigslist to help get the job done.   That means you’re going to be dealing with very motivated sellers.  In many cases, that results in wild bargains.  I personally know someone who bought a completely operable late-80s Buick from a Craigslist ad for only $150.  He was able to drive the car for five months before he decided to sell it himself at a substantial profit.  One way to improve your odds on Craigslist is to act fast.  Sellers with low prices get a lot of calls and the early bird has the best chance at getting the vehicular worm.

Your Newspaper. Sometimes the old standbys work.  If you keep close tabs on your local paper’s classified section you may be able to find a cheap car.  Cars for under 500 dollars aren’t as common as they were ten years ago, but they do occasionally pop up.

Two other good ways to find a cheap car?  Yard sales (seriously) and the random car parked in a driveway with a “for sale” sign on it.  These two relatively unpredictable situations can put you in the driver’s seat on the cheap.

There are other ways to secure a cheap car including auctions and approaching auto donation centers about making direct sales, but the methods listed above are probably the best ways to find that cheap set of wheels.

Regardless of how you go about getting your bargain basement buggy, there are a few things you should remember about being a buyer at the lowest end of the price spectrum.

The cars are short-term solutions. Most cars for under 50o hundred dollars aren’t going to last long.  There are reasons why they’re so cheap.  You might get lucky, but you’re more likely to end up with an inoperable hunk of junk in a matter of months.  Plan accordingly and understand that your cheap car is a stop-gap measure.

The cars are for good drivers. If you’re not a decent driver, you probably shouldn’t consider the bottom of the barrel offerings.  They tend to be cantankerous and often require a certain “touch” when driving them.  A good driver can putt around town without second gear in a car that’s a more than a little out of alignment.  A novice driver will probably end up in an accident.  Cheap cars aren’t as safe as the ones on the showroom floor.

This isn’t the time to be picky. If you need a car for next to nothing and you find one that works, take it.  This isn’t the time to worry about whether it carries a Chevy or a Ford emblem.  This isn’t the kind of situation where you should make good on your promise to never drive a station wagon.  If you need wheels and you find something drivable at a cut-rate, take it.  Period.  Beggars can’t be choosers.

With a little luck and a little effort, even those on the tightest budget can go mobile with cars for under 500 dollars.